Iroh stood at the bow of the ship, staring into the water.

He had just come from Bumi's cabin to say good night to Suki.

He decided to stay above deck a little longer, feeling like he couldn't breathe due to anticipation.

They had begun their voyage to the Fire Nation one week ago, Bumi said they had about three days left and Iroh was itching to beat whoever did this to his family.

He touched the tile in his pocket and sighed. He still felt nothing when he touched it.

He wished he felt something, he really needed his grandfather right now.

Iroh lowered his head, "I hope you're okay Grandfather. I wish you were here."

He closed his eyes tight.

"Hey Fireworks."

"Hey Nin," Iroh said, not having to look at the Earthbender after hearing the nickname.

"What's going on?" She asked, walking to the wall.

"Just anxious," Iroh shrugged weakly.

Nin nodded faintly, "It's kinda exciting though."

"What do you mean by that?" He glanced at her.

"We're recruits," Nin said. "Most recruits barely get to help sail, but we're helping rescue the Fire Nation Royal Family. Isn't that incredible?"

Iroh nodded faintly.

"Sorry..." Nin said. "I realize now, it probably isn't as exciting for someone who's saving their own King."

"No, it's fine. It is exciting, I agree, it's just nerve wracking too," Iroh said. "Especially because we barely know what we're up against."

"No matter what it is, we have to try," Nin said. "As my Dad always said, 'Never give up without a fight.'."

Iroh lifted his chin, looking at her in surprise, "That's what my grandfather used to say. Along with spouting out 'honor' every third word."

Nin snickered.

Iroh grinned.

"Didn't help that my tiny village was full of soldier wannabes that thought they could control the place. So you had to fight a lot," Nin shrugged.

Iroh furrowed his brows, "I thought you were from Ba Sing Se?"

"Well," Nin rubbed her neck. "It was where I enlisted..."

"But you're not from Ba Sing Se?" Iroh asked.

Nin lowered her eyes.

"Hey," Iroh elbowed her shoulder gently.

Nin glanced at him hesitantly.

"I'm not judging," Iroh said gently. "It doesn't matter to me where you're from or your placement in society."

Nin smiled weakly, "Thanks Iroh."

Iroh smiled at her.

"Sorry I lied then," She said nervously. "You all are from high classes or big cities, I thought you guys wouldn't want me in the group if you all found out I'm a little hogfarm girl from the Plains Village."

"Nin, our group isn't about social class," Iroh said, turning to face her. "It's about being United: despite ethnicity, bending and nonbending abilities, personality, gender, orientation, everything. We're here for each other no matter what, not only if you're high class."

Nin smiled up at him, since she was only as tall as his shoulders.

"For the record, I think it's cool you joined the Forces when you could've stayed on your farm," Iroh said.

"Yeah, nothing like waking up and stepping into a mound of hog-sheep dung," Nin laughed.

Iroh chuckled, "I bet your Dad's proud."

"He said he's very proud, but he's also scared."

"Why's that?" Iroh asked.

"His older brother, my uncle, he was a soldier during the Hundred Year War," Nin said. "His battalion was captured by a Fire Nation unit, no offense..."

Iroh shrugged, "It's not like I was part of it. I'm displeased with my Nation for it too."

"Well, my grandfather went looking for him, but never found him," Nin said. "Dad...kinda still has a thing against Firebenders, but he does have one exception."

Iroh looked at her.

"Not long after Grandpa left to look for my uncle" Nin said. "Dad was kidnapped by the soldier wannabes and they were going to force him to be a child soldier."

Iroh's brow twitched, feeling like he's heard this story.

"They chained him to the town's water tower," Nin said. "And, he was saved...by Fire Lord Zuko."

Iroh looked at her, blinking fast.

"Well, at the time he was the banished Prince Zuko," Nin said.

Iroh opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Nin pulled a knife out of her sleeve, "He gave Dad a knife like this one, but Dad didn't want it when he found out."

Iroh looked at the knife as Nin unsheathed it, revealing the exact same inscription. He could've sworn his grandfather said his knife was one of a kind.

"How'd you get it?" He asked. "I've heard knifes like that are one of a kind."

"The one Fire Lord Zuko gave my Dad was," Nin said. "But my Dad didn't want it. When I started showing interest in fighting, Dad started saving up, took him ten years and I never knew. Just before I left for Ba Sing Se, he gave me this, it's a replica of the one he was given, but instead--"

She flipped it and handed it to Iroh.

"We're miles apart, but Daddy's always with you in heart," Iroh read aloud.

He smiled weakly, thinking of the 'I'm always with you' letters Bumi used to send him. He handed her the knife back.

"That's really sweet of him," Iroh said.

Nin smiled, "Dad's always wanted to apologize to Fire Lord Zuko for how he treated him, but since he can't...maybe, when we save him, I can."

Iroh nodded, "I hope you can Nin. And, being from the Fire Nation palace, maybe I could help if it comes to it."

Nin smiled, "Thanks Iroh."

Iroh nodded.

Nin watched the sky, "You can lightning bend, right?"

Iroh nodded, "Yeah, why?"

"Can I see?" She looked at him.

"Why?" He frowned.

Nin shrugged, "It sounds cool and it can just be a little spark it doesn't have to be a bolt."

Iroh bit his lip, looking at the stars.

The last time he generated lightning, he almost electrocuted his grandfather.

"Uh, sorry Nin," Iroh sighed. "I don't feel comfortable doing that right now."

She shrugged, "Okay."

"Maybe another time."

Nin nodded. She turned her head, yawning.

Iroh glanced at her.

"I think I'm going to head to bed," She said.

"Night," She patted his back.

"Night," He said.

She headed below deck.

Iroh waited a moment after the door closed before he backed away from the wall.

He planted his feet in place and closed his fists, sticking out his middle and index finger on both hands.

He slowly started the technique.

Electricity danced around his hands and crept up his arms.

In one swift move, he jabbed his fingers towards the sky.

A large lightning bolt shot from his fingertips and into the sky, creating blinding light and a deafening thunderclap.

He released a breath, he still knew how to do it.